UCCI forms alliance

A special ceremony was held at the Vassel Johnson Hall at the University College of the Cayman Islands to mark the Chartered Institute for Securities and Investment’s confirmation of the college as its primary training provider in the Cayman Islands on Monday, 11 October. The accreditation solidifies UCCI as the first accredited training provider in the Cayman Islands.

The school will offer training for the CISI’s core global qualifications, which include the International Introduction to Investment, Risk in Financial Services, International Certificate in Wealth Management and the CISI Certificates programme.

Training will be rolled out in the Cayman Islands in January 2011.

“These CISI qualifications will support the ongoing development and professionalism of the Cayman Islands wealth management industry,” said UCCI President Roy Bodden.

UCCI offers a number of certificate programmes, associate and degree courses, as well as graduate programmes and professional training.

CISI CEO Simon Culhane said, “We are pleased to launch our qualifications programme with UCCI. This will allow Caymanians the ability to gain skills that will enable them to pursue a career in the securities industry and contribute to the Island’s economy.” He added that his decision to get involved with UCCI and to come to Cayman was made on the strength of just one phone conversation with the university’s president, whom he said made it crystal clear that it was the right choice to make.

Based in the city of London, CISI is a global organization with representative offices in financial centres such as Dublin, Singapore, Duai and Mumbai. It works closely in cooperation with regulators, firms and other professional bodies worldwide. The Institute was granted a Royal Charter in 2009.

“The University College of the Cayman Islands is pleased to partner with the prestigious Chartered Institute of Securities and Investment to provide training for CISI’s investment advisory qualifications. Having such training available at UCCI will allow practitioners to obtain first-hand education through qualified personnel. It carries the added advantage of face to face contact with instructors.

“Once again, UCCI is responding to the educational and training needs of the Cayman Islands, as a leading international financial centre. It is our hope that the entities that operate in the jurisdiction avail themselves of this opportunity to improve the professionalism of their staff,” said the University’s president.

Testing will also be offered at the university, meaning individuals will not have to go overseas to sit the exam for the courses offered.

RBS Coutts Managing Director David Foster, said during his career, he himself undertook the very same courses, which have now been made available at UCCI and added that he views the course as an advantage for anyone he considers for employment.